Furniture



Dec. 22, 1936. H E L B K 2,064,968

FURNITURE Filed Jan. 26, 1955 v I ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 22, 1936 UNITED STATES OFFKIE '7 Claims.

My invention relates to furniture and particularly to means for supporting coil springs employed in the upholstered portions thereof, the principal object being the provision of simple, strong and efficient means for securing the ends of strap-like supports for the springs to a frame whereby such supports may be employed for seat bottoms.

In practicing my present invention, I employ metal straps which extend in spaced relation across the frame of the bottom of the seat or back of furniture, automobile cushions and other types of spring construction, securely anchored to the frame at one end by a bracket which :.readily lendsitself to such support and enables the strap to withstand the strains of usage in seat bottoms. The opposite end of the strap may be securedto the frame in the same manner, but to lend added resiliency to the structure it is preferably supported by springs to permit the strap to be flexed and give when loaded. A similar bracket to the one above referred to for supporting one end of the strap rigidly is, in such cases, utilized for securingthe supporting springs to the opposite side of the'frame. The straps are preferably overlain by web strips disposed crosswise of the straps. The lower coil of the double conical springs preferably employed rests on the strips and this prevents the coils of thesprings from audibly contacting or striking the metal straps in service. Suitable clips co-operate between the straps and springs for retaining the springs in fixed relation on the straps.

Accordingly, the main objects of my invention are: to provide a metal strap across the frame of upholstery elements which is securely anchored at one end; to provide a strap anchored at one end to the side of a frame, the other end of which is interconnected by spring means to an opposite side of the frame; to provide a bracket for securing one end of the metal strap in firm, fixed relation to one side of a frame. a similar bracket being utilized for supporting the other end'of the strap through spring means to the other frame side; and, in general, to pro- Vide asupport for double conical springs, one end of which is rigidly disposed and the other end. of which is spring mounted, all of which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and dependable for use in seat bottoms.

Other objects and features of novelty of my invention will be either specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of my invention, to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a broken plan view, partly in section, of an upholstered frame embodying features of my invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken sectional View of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, taken on the line 22 thereof,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, taken on the line 3-3 thereof,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the structure illustrated in Fig. 3,

Fig; 5 is a view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 3 showing a modified form thereof, and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 5, taken on the line 6-6 thereof.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view, similar to that shown in Fig. 4, but showing a modified form of construction, the co-operating frame member being shown in phantom form.

In Fig. l, I have illustrated an upholstered frame It comprising a front frame element H and a rear frame element l2, a plurality of laterally disposed metal straps I3 extending between the frame elements H and I2 and longitudinally extending web strips l4 crossing the straps at points at which springs are to be secured. The webbing is retained in a suitable manner to the end elements of the frame.

The front end oft-the strap l3'is bent upwardly as at 13a and nailed to the frame H by suitable nails l5 as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. For securely anchoring the end of each strap in place; a bracket 16 is employed which is of angle shape, one flange N3 of which overlies the inner face of the frame member H over the bent up end of the strap and the other flange I8a of which abuts against the lower face of the frame member ll. Each bracket [6 has a stampedout tongue I? extending inwardly of the frame in a plane parallel to the flange l8a of the bracket. This tongue is struck out of the metal of the flange Eta and in thus striking it out it leaves a slot 23a in the flange I80. through which the bent up end l3a of the strap I 3 projects. The flange 18 has a pressed-out portion 19 for receiving the bent end I30. of the strap I3 which is disposed therein before it is nailed to the frame H. The bracket is secured to the frame by nails 2! through the flange l8 and by nails 22 through the bottom flange I80, of the bracket. In this manner the strap is held rigidly to the frame at the lower end of the frame without any possibility of it becoming separated therefrom.

The downward weight transmitted by the spiral spring 26 upon the strap I3 is translated into a tensile strain throughout the strap. This tensile strain is borne mainly by the bracket it and partially the upright portion I3a of the strap I3. The portion Ita expends its load in a downward draw against the nails I5, and the load upon the bracket is an inward and upward stress against Y the inner face of flange I8, and the corner formed between flange I8 and tongue IT. This latter load is absorbed primarily by nails 221 with the assistance of nails 2! which also serve to retain the bracket It in operative position and to clamp the end portion I3a of the strap between the inner face of the flange I8 and the member II.

Another bracket It for each strap I3 is secured in a similar manner to the rear frame element I2, and where it is desired to lend added resiliency to the construction the tongue IT thereof is provided with apertures 24 shown in Fig. 4, for the purpose of receiving, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the eyes of a pair of coil springs 25 the opposite ends of which are secured in apertures at the rear end of the strap I 3. In this manner each strap I3 is securely suspended between the frame elements II and I2 and is permitted to deflect in view of the springs 25. Any number of the, springs 25 may be utilized depending upon their size, strength and the load to be supported thereby.

Springs 26 are preferably of the double cone type. Difficulty has always been experienced in securing the ends of such springs to flat strips, such as straps I3 employed in the present invention. A suitable form of fastening means for this purpose is shown as comprising rivets 21 which extend upwardly through apertures in the strap It. The split ends 28 of the rivets engage the lower turn of the springs 26 and when pressed together thereover securely fix the springs against the webs I I and to the straps I3. The ends of the springs are thus firmly retained in position and are prevented from rattling on the straps I3 by the webs I I. Any number of springs may be fastened in this manner along the straps I3 as is apparent from Fig. 1. This particular manner of securing the springs 25 to the straps I3 forms no part of the present invention.

In Figs. 5 and 6, I have shown a modification of my invention wherein a U-shaped spring element 29 interconnects the rear end of the strap I3 to the rear frame element I2. The brackets it in this case may have the tongue I! omitted, and are secured to the frame element I2 in the previouslydescribed manner. The one end of each of the elements 29 is received in the offset portion IQ of the corresponding bracket I6 where it is secured by nails SI which extend through the bracket and the end of the element. The opposite ends of the elements 29 are secured to the straps I3 preferably by rivets, or other means well known in the art to be suitable may be utilized in lieu thereof. The spring elements 29 provide the deflection to the strap I3 the same as the springs 25 above referred to.

In Fig. 7 a modification of the bracket I6 shown in the previous views is illustrated. As indicated the relation of the strap I3 and frame member II is the same as in the previous views and the up-turned end I3a of the strap I3 is secured to the inner face of the frame member II by nails I5 in the same manner as previously described. Instead of employing a bracket such as I 6 previously described and formed from sheet metal, a bracket generally indicated in this View at 35 and formed from wire is used. The bracket 35 includes a central portion 36 which extends over the strap I3 at its junction with the upwardly turned end Isa. At the respectively opposite ends of the portion 38 the wire is preferably bent downwardly as at 31, this being for the purpose of permitting the strap I3 to be upwardly offset with respect to the bottom edge of the frame II and thus to be concealed from view from the outside. The lower ends of the portions 31 are connected to the outwardly extending arms 38, the arms 38 preferably extending in parallel relation to each other and to the length of the strap I3 and in perpendicular relation to both the portions 36 and 37 as shown. The free ends of the arms 38 are located approximately centrally of the width of the frame member II and each are there provided with an eye 39 through which a nail 40 is projected upwardly into the bottom face of the frame member II. Thus it will be seen that the bracket 35 serves the same purpose as the bracket I6 previously described, but is cheaper and more economical to produce.

While I have described and illustrated but several embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, omissions, additions and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A bracket comprising a central body portion, two oppositely extending flanges lying in parallel planes and integral with and perpendicular to said central portion and disposed along one edge thereof, one of said flanges being struck and bent out of the other to form a rounded strap engaging edge and having at least one aperture therein, the other flange having an aperture therein co-extensive with and along the bend of said first flange.

2. In combination with a spring encompassing frame, metal straps interconnecting opposite sides of the frame, one end of said straps being angularly bent, an angle-shaped bracket having a portion slit and pressed out to form an aperture with a rounded strap engaging edge, said bent end of said strap extending through said aperture and between said bracket and a frame element, said bent end being secured along with said bracket to said frame element in a manner whereby the strap is retained substantially flush with the bottom of said frame.

3. The combination with a spring encompassing frame, of metal straps interconnecting opposite sides of said frame, one end of said straps being angularly bent, angle-shaped brackets each having a portion slit and pressed out to form an aperture with a rounded strap engaging edge, the bent ends of said straps extending through said aperture of the corresponding bracket and between said bracket and a frame element and being secured along with the bracket to the frame element in a manner whereby the strap is retained substantially flush with the bottom of said frame, brackets each having a pressed out portion forming a tongue and secured to the opposite side of the frame with at least one opening in said tongue, the opposite end of the straps being provided with at least one opening, and spring means received in said 75 openings interconnecting the corresponding ends of the straps and the last mentioned brackets.

4. In combination with a frame to be upholstered, a plurality of brackets disposed against the inner and lower surfaces of said frame, each bracket having a lower flange portion and having an aperture in the lower flange portion along the bend of each bracket, a plurality of metal straps interconnecting opposite sides of the frame, each having an upwardly bent end portion extending through said aperture in each of said brackets and between said bracket and the inner face of said frame, and means for securing said brackets and end portions to said frame.

5. In combination with a spring encompassing frame, a metal strap for interconnecting opposite sides of said frame, one end of said strap being angularly bent with respect to the general plane thereof and positioned with the outer face thereof in contacting relation with respect to an inner face of said frame, securing means extending through said end and into said frame, and a bracket having a part engaging over said strap and against said bent end and having a part contacting the bottom face of said frame, and securing means extending through said latter part and into said bottom face of said frame.

6. In an upholstery frame structure, in combination, a frame member, a metal strap extending across said frame and having a bent end positioned in face to face relationship with an inner face of said frame member, securing means extending through said bent end and into said frame member, and a bracket anchored to said strap and to said frame member, said bracket comprising a wire having a portion overlying said strap and contacting said bent end and side portions extending under said frame member and terminating in loops, and securing means extending through said loops and into the bottom face of said frame member.

7. In a frame structure to be upholstered, a plurality of metal straps for supporting springs thereon extending between opposite members of said frame with one end of each strap upwardly bent to form a flange engaging in a face to face contact the inner surface of one of said members and secured thereto, a bracket engaging said member, said bracket having an upright portion disposed adjacent said inner surface and against the inner face of said flange and having an outwardly projecting portion contacting the lower face of said member and having an aperture therein through which said flange extends, penetrating means for securing said bracket relative to the adjacent parts of said member, and means resiliently connecting the other end of said strap to the other of said opposite members.

HARRY E. AULSBROOK. 

